Haringey Liberal Democrats have raised new concerns about the Labour council’s controversial PFI for schools, following a major new report criticising PFI schools as “significantly worse” than their publicly financed counterparts.

The report, published this week by the Audit Commission, disclosed that traditional funding delivered, on average, better schools buildings as well as showing that construction and the running of schools have “varied widely, with no clear difference between the two types of funding.” The report also criticised the technical quality of the schools, falling below the standards of traditionally funded schools.

The report comes after a turbulent year for Haringey council with regards to schooling. The Liberal Democrats unearthed the alarming extra costs, to the tune of £3 million per year, that the council would endure after the initial 3-year honeymoon period of PFI. Also there was controversy over £2 million given to the council to bail them out after a number of unseen PFI costs were discovered.

Barbara Fabian, Lib Dem Education Spokesperson, comments:

“This is a worrying report. From the start we have asked the Council for proper consultation and transparency on PFI – but we didn’t get it. Since then we have seen soaring costs, delays and disruptions to schools during term time and little improvement in school performances.”

“I think it is time that the Labour council faced up to some home truths about PFI. In the last 12 months we have seen Capita fail to produce on their promises to improve the education system while still happily taking more money,”

“What concerns me even more is that after seeing the failure of PFIs in secondary schools, the system may end up being imposed on primary schools.